Spider-Man Episode 14: Dedicate the Song of the Powerless Brave to My Father

Spider-Man Episode 14: Dedicate the Song of the Powerless Brave to My Father父に捧げよ 戦えぬ勇者の歌を
Aired: August 16, 1978

In another thrilling episode, the Iron Cross Army decides to reveal the identity of Spider-Man to the world, casting their suspicions on Takuya Yamashiro. With sister and brother kidnapped to force the web-slinger out of hiding, our hero is caught between a rock and a hard place. Guest starring Koki Tanioka (Battle Fever J).

Let’s get started.

A ship has left Japan carrying all sorts of goods like coffee and spices, but may be carrying some contraband. Spider-Man must sneak into the Iron Trade Corporation and find their secret list of imports in another espionage mission given to him by Agent Mamiya. As he breaks in, one of the Spider-Bracelet’s special tools, besides having a compact mirror, is demonstrated as it magically opens a latched window.

Inside, he notices that the guards are Iron Cross Henchman due to the smell of anesthesia they emit. He narrowly evades a laser-fence, climbing to the other side of the offices. He makes it to the room, but notices the security camera in the vents and disables it. He manages to open the safe with his Bracelet, and takes the pics of the papers. What he doesn’t notice is a second set of cameras hidden in the light fixtures.

At Interpol, Mamiya tells Takuya that they’ve cracked the encryption on the papers and figured out the Iron Cross Army’s plans with the cargo. Apparently, they are building some kind of weapon by working with various crime syndicates throughout the world. Takuya tells Mamiya that he will keep an eye on the Iron Trade Corporation for any new developments. You’d wonder if Takuya gets paid for these activities at least.

Big Bat’s plan

Professor Monster is miffed that Amazoness’s alarm system did not stop Spider-Man from breaking in, and if he is not stopped, their intrinsically laid plans would be all be for naught. Machine Bem Big Bat is hanging in the rafters, transforms into his human form, and tells them he will reveal the identity of the wall-crawler. He believes that it is Takuya Yamashiro. Amazoness says he’s a no good slacker, but Big Bat promises to prove it nonetheless.

The next day Weekly Woman magazine holds a search for Spider-Man’s identity, promising a million yen to the person who can snap that photo. Editor- in-Chief Amazoness explains the rationale for this search to Hitomi, as a famous hero somehow deserves to have his whole life revealed to the world.

Later, Takuya is practicing his motorcross racing but can’t shake the feeling that something is watching him. His Spider-Sense tingles with the hint of a bat, but Takuya can’t seem to notice that gourd by the trees, especially the one with the flashing eyes. Hitomi arrives just as the lap is finished, and Takuji tells his brother that he’s 20 seconds late. The girlfriend asks to go out on a date, but before Takuya can do anything, a biker gang appears. No, it’s not the Skull Gang from last episode.

Holy crap!

Takuya realizes that they are modified humans. One of them places their hand on Hitomi and in the struggle, their metal hands are revealed. Takuya, rather than risking turning into Spider-Man, gets his butt kicked by these cyborgs. A smartly dressed man in white appears and saves everybody by soundly kicking their butts. It’s clearly Big Bat, and Hitomi almost swoons at his handsome visage. Takuji and Hitomi are not impressed with the young man after that fight, especially since he’s acting like a weakling.

That night, Takuya has dreams about a flurry of bats and what do you know, the weird gourds are right outside his house. He manages to destroy one, and realizes he’s in deep trouble.

The next morning, Hitomi’s even here for breakfast, as Shinko tells everyone that they’re going to an amusement park today. Takuya is still wearing the same shirt from last night, and like the slacker that he is, he doesn’t even bother partake in the activities. The three enjoy their day, riding the carousel, the swing rides, among other things. Amazoness and Big Bat arrive at the park, dressed in whites like a couple.

Oh what fun.

The roller coaster suddenly goes out of control, and Takuya rushes to the control booth. The saboteurs are obviously Iron Cross henchman, and while Takuya gets his butt whooped again, Big Bat arrives to the rescue. Shinko and the rest arrive to find Takuya being a big loser once again, and he can’t do a damn thing without revealing his secret identity, despite showing up in previous episodes at the most opportune moments. At the base, Big Bat promises to try one more trap to reveal Spider-Man’s identity.

After they leave the amusement park, Takuji and Shinko are still disappointed with Takuya and they leave him to do some shopping. The store turns out to be a front for the Iron Cross Army and the two get kidnapped. Hitomi runs to Takuya with the news, written on a demon mask. Takuya rides away, still searching for a place to transform, especially with those bat-gourds all around town.

The trap

At Warehouse No. 7, Shinko and Takujj are tied up to the rafters looking visibly a little unimpressed, as this is what the fifth time they’ve been threatened by the Iron Cross. To up the ante, Amazoness demonstrates their latest weapon, a disintegrating ray. Takuya arrives and runs around, looking for any trace of his siblings. Surrounded by Ninders, he jumps into the water with his helmet on, and Big Bat declares that he wasn’t Spider-Man at all. Really? Jumping into the water discounts that theory because spiders don’t like water? Where the hell was he during the movie?

Climbing once again

Takuya does transform into Spider-Man and arrives in the GP-7. They shoot the laser at him, and it clearly misses him rather easily. He rushes to save Shinko and Takuji, telling them to take the car and leave. The epic fight scene begins, this time sticking to the docks. Another verse of the theme song plays while he beats the Ninders up. Big Bat transforms and all he does is leap at him. It gives up trying to fight him in normal form and turns into a giant as a suicide wish, quickly dispatched by Leopardon.

Later they fish Takuya out of the water, and Amazoness confirms that he wasn’t Spider-Man at all, riiight… Does this mean his loved once forgive him for being a huge wimp for this episode, or will the writer’s conveniently forget it? Hopefully it still means the Iron Cross Army will lay off the Yamashiros for a while, or at least when they have another inkling. Seriously, why don’t they eliminate them already after all this time?!